The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1887-09-01
A FINE GRAFTON.
Memorial Address of J. M. Leach, Jr.
TCharlotte Chronicle.1

CnarlOtte CnfOncle.J
The memorial address of Mr.. 7. M.
Leach, Jr., of Lexington, delivered at
, Greensboro in May last, has been
printed in pamphlet form. A copy is
upon our table and we have read it
with pleasure, for Mr.. Leach is young
man of vigorous intellectual force and
splendid literary attainments. His
mind is of a strong philosophical bent,
aud possesses keen analytical powers
We heard him several years ago, de-
liver a literary address before Yadkin
College and his address now before us
is but the fulfilment of the promise he
| there gave of a clear thinker and forci-
bic ard polished speaker. In this
sphere in which he SO gracefully moves,
he plucks the rarest buds and the
sweetest literary blossoms apd garlands
them with the beauty and finish of a
skilled workman.
The two leading thoughts of the ad
dress before us are "that to be as great
as those whose virtues we commemorate
we must be greater;'' and "that, al
though parties, civilizations and nations
may pass away, Humanity races for
better goals, and grandly marches to
loftier achievements The line of
argument is that our fallen dead have
left us shining example in that they
fought bravely the battles of life and
performed their individual duty as
true men. While the youth of the
present day are not engaged in wars
cruel carnage there are conflicts to
overcome, battles to be fought in the
duties of life and vital questions to be
met in the affairs by which they are
surrounded.
In the language of the speaker, "we
have our battles to fight as did the
loved dead. War is to be waged
against ignorance, discomfort, ine-
quality and license. The possibility
of being greater than those who came
not back is suggested by our marvel
lous advantages over them, and by the
beautiful words of Sir Isaac Newton,
who, when praised as being the great
est of scientists, said, with the modes
ty that characterizes the highest genius:
IF have seen farther into science
than Kepler or Descartes it is because
| stand upon the shoulders of giants.
We stand upon the shoulders of moral
giants-men who died for conscience"
The address shows conclusively that
the talented young speaker is an ad-
vance thinker. He deals in a very
forcible way with one of the great
problems of the future. That between
j the skirmish lines of sstrikes,' and
other suicidal policies Of labor, on the
one hand, and the absurd demands Of
capital that the theory of our govern
ment be changed from the protection
and culture of the individual to the
protection of property alone, on the
other, the great battle is to be fought"
There are many forcible arguments
and apt illustrations of the policy to
be pursued in overcoming the con-
ficts between these two great elements.
The address is by young man and
it comes to young men full of food for
thought and examples worthy of en-
ulation. The peroration is upon Hope,
and like the bow of promise, it spans
the entire effort with cheerful CLEAN.
1t is in these words:
When the worst has been said of our
society, reasons remain for believing
that the present, with its blemishes, is
the brightest picture which history has
painted upon the canvass of time but,
! let US believe tha. a more perfect paint
! ing will be executed by the master
artist Humanity. We should have
hope in the inborn genius of Ameri-
cans, Angio-Saxons, Aryans, "Sons OF
light" Hope in knowledge gained
from the sad experiences of the great
majority" who have gone before US,
that the rising currents OF human